The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-04
THE BEST WAR ARMS.
REcoM OF THE CHIEF
OF ORDNANCE.
Effort to Secure a Satisfactory Maya.
zine Gun-The Day of Long Reach
ing, Heavy Guns Not Yet Gone By
Liberal Appropriations Necessary.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3.-Brig. Gen. S. V.
Benet, chief Of the ordnance, has submit
ted his annual report to the Secretary OF
War. II shows that the total expcndi-
lures of the bureau during the fiscal year
were 81, 507, G52. During the year Al 100
rifles and carbncs were manufactured at
the National armory. Gen. Benet SAYS:
| THE question Of reduced caliber for
small arms is now under consideration by
the department.; an effective and simple
magazine gun has become necessity, and
this bureau has, during many years, en-
dcayored through boards and trials in the
field 10 settle on one that would I've salts
factory to the army but thus far without
| success. The department il, however,
seeking to reach such result, and from
the little that can DE learned OF the maya
zine system said TO have been adopted
abroad, ] am pursuaded that nothing IL 10
he gained nj this juncture by haste"
The report says that owing Ia the failure
OF Congress 10 pass the regular appropria-
non bill, the department has effected but
llltle during the past year in the direction
OF providing guns, carriages powders, etc,
ior coast defense.
Under the head OF rifle forgings. the re-
port says that the domestic manufacturers
have at last triumphed over their limita-
lions, and have obtained success in spite of
inadequate facilities
On this subject Gen. Benct says at is
believed 10 be- Ia the vital interest Of the
whole country that such liberal appropria-
Tons be made by Congress from year 10
year. until our present utter dcstitution rs
To modern guns be relieved ~ shall fur.
nlsh the substantial encouragement and
aid that our steel industry demands. Asa
step in this direction have asked in my
annual estimate for an nppropria.
ton of Sl,j00,OOO for the procurement
oi iorgings for cight-inch and tcn-inch b. l..
steel guns. This sum should procure the
steel Tor about fifty eight-inch guns and
forty tcn-inch guns, and 10 allow the nee
cssary time Ia erect additional plant this
appropriation should be- made available
until expended. Our dealings
are with the immediate present, and il
the rcoccurrcncc Of wars are likely Ia fol-
low ample preparation, Europe in arms
would seem 10 indicate that the days of
peaceful arbitration have not yet been
reached. II can hardly be- recommended
ity our shores should continue unguardcd
aud nj the mercy NJ the most insignificant
bclligrrcnt llams aud torprdocs and dy-
namltc guns are powerful uuNilmries
in harbor defense, but the war con
dtions vet obtaining will not dis
pcnsc with the hart hammcring Of heavy
shot moving with high velocity because
these auNiliarics themselves need protCc.
ton, and Of n mos. prrircl character. The
dynamite guns villa limited range can
not bc left To the mercy Ut the much
longer reaching gunsoi the enemies ships
The attacking ships must be- kept ut
distance 10y heavy guns aud long range |
morinn the comparative low cost of NOR |
tars enabling us 10 compensate by mum |
bcns ior any lack Of accuracy IT fire. Heavy |
cannon am, therefore, u Necessity and |
must be- provided, aud our unprotected |
coasts demand that they be- provided
speedily
The report saws that the dynamite tor
pcdo has been fairly perfected. and IL Is
recommended that twclycinch gun be |
purchased Tor exhaustive trials To deter. |
mine It's full capacity aud fitness for coast
defense. Favorable mention il also made |
Of the Stevens dynamite she'll.
II Is said that with the exception OF the |
twenty-five three aud two-tcnths inch u. |
l.. iicld-guns just issued Ia the service
there Is in storc only the old muzzlc load.
ing guns of limited power, representing a
system twenty-five ycan old aud now OBJ |
splcie, while there am no scr,iccahlc ear |
riagCs. An estimate vi S22i. 900 il accord. |
ingly submitted Tor thr purchase of sixty |
completely equipped steel guns. The |
bnllistic tests oi the eight inch gun, Il is
said, show a higher effective energy than
any gun Of like caliler extnnt.